European governments must push back against fossil fuel companies’ efforts to capitalise on the energy crisis by locking consumers into long-term dependence on hydrocarbons, former US vice-president Al Gore has said.

Countries are rushing to balance their green ambitions with the need to ensure energy security. At least €50bn of spending is planned by EU governments this winter on fossil fuel infrastructure and supplies after imports of oil, gas and coal from Russia plunged amid sanctions and restrictions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine.

“We must resist the efforts of gas and oil and coal sellers to lock in long-term increased dependencies on fossil fuels, which are accompanied by long-term increases in greenhouse gas emissions,” Gore told the Financial Times.